The Signs

The astrological signs (Rāshi) are very similar to those in Greek astrology. Capricorn is the exception: in India it’s associated with a crocodile, whereas in Western astrology it’s often depicted as a symbolic water creature—sometimes even confused with a ram. It’s the only tropical zodiac sign whose shape does not correspond to a clearly defined land animal.

Tropical Zodiac

The tropical zodiac serves as a reference for our life on Earth: its signs do not denote stars but form a calendar based on the rhythm of the seasons. The tropical zodiac is tied to the solar system rather than to the stars.

Surya and Chandra

According to my research, Vedic astrology employs both the lunar (sidereal) approach—based on the Nakshatra star constellations—and the solar (tropical) approach. However, the tropical component is far less used in India, which explains why most people believe that Vedic astrology is exclusively sidereal.